Polikarpov BDP S-1 explained

The BDP S-1 (Boyevoi Desantnyi Planer – troops assault glider) was a military glider of the Soviet Union. It was produced by the Bureau of Special Construction (Osoboe Konstruktorskoe Buro) in 1941 as a glider infantry troop transport. It accommodated 20 troops plus one pilot, and had gun ports for defense. Of wooden construction, the glider featured a high aspect ratio, high-cantilever wing and trailing flaps, utilizing a wheeled-carriage for takeoff and landing on plywood runners ^{[1] [2]} Due to the advance of German forces, only seven were built until the factory was moved, and production was shifted to powered aircraft.^[3]

Technical data

• Type: Battle glider^[2]
• Crew: Pilot
• Payload: 20 soldiers, equipped, or equivalent weight in other cargo.
• Towing speed: 100 mph (maximum)
• Wingspan: 65.7 ft
• Wing area: 481 sq ft
• Empty: 5,070 lb
• Cargo: 2,630 1b
• Total with cargo: 7,700 lb
• Maximum airspeed: 100 mph

Notes and References

1. Book: Mrazek, James . 2011 . Airborne Combat: The Glider War/Fighting Gliders of World War II . Mechanicsburg, PA . Stackpole Books . 425–426 . 9780811708081.
2. Book: Mrazek, James . 1977 . Fighting Gliders of World War II . New York, NY . St. Martin's Press . 162–165 . 9780312289270.
3. Book: Thompson, Leroy . 2006 . 4th . Unfulfilled Promise: The Soviet Airborne Forces, 1928-1945 . Bennington, Vermont . Merriam Press . 35 . 1576381439.